Friday, November 7, 2008

TRAINING

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR PUPPYPuppies have a strong natural instinct to avoid soiling their own area. If you are consistent and patient, this natural urge for cleanliness makes house training fairly easy. You can begin training any time after five weeks of age. A little extra effort and patience in puppyhood will make the difference later on between a happy, cooperative pet and one that causes problems for you.When your puppy asks for attention, you probably respond by petting, which is only natural. Begin using these requests to show that you are the teacher and your puppy is the learner. It may sound silly but it's important to establish this relationship early in puppyhood.At first, feed at least three times a day. All dogs do not have the same digestive rates-you may need to feed your puppy as often as five times a day in order to avoid overloading his system and causing loose, difficult-to-control bowel movements. When you find the right schedule, the result is a dog that eats and then has a bowel movement within a few minutes.Feed indoors. Remember, dogs do not like to eliminate where they eat. If your dog is urinating or defecating in a certain area, try feeding him right at that spot (after clean up, of course.) Right after your dog finishes eating, chase him out good naturedly to his toilet area, ahead of you if possible. Then let him sniff around for a good spot. Do not confuse things by urging him to go. After he goes to the bathroom, crouch down and point at the urine or fecal matter and say "good dog". Look right at the stuff, not at the dog. If your dog sniffs it, praise and pet him enthusiastically.Take your puppy outside after waking up, even from a nap,after extreme excitement, after drinking water,after prolonged chewing on a toy, etc. If he starts sniffing around the house for a good spot.In about four days your pup should automatically head for his proper place after meals or whenever the urge strikes. If it takes longer, be patient. After this stage of house training, your puppy knows where to go, but not when to go. Do not try to teach self control (the "when" part) until you can be sure he will always head for the door when it's time to go.

To teach self control, you must keep feeding times consistent. Don't feed at 7:30 a.m. on week days and then sleep in on Sunday--you'll ruin the whole program. Dogs can control their urine for as long as thirteen hours when they need to. To teach self control, you should try to let your dog outdoors only at times when you are ordinarily home to do so. Whenever you see signs that your pup wants to go to the bathroom during the forbidden hours, try to distract him by tossing a ball, playing with a toy or doing any activity that will take his mind off the urge.If possible, have your puppy sleep in a room with people. Because he will be inclined to tune into your sleeping times, there will be fewer accidents and less night time disturbance. Given a little blanket as a bed, most puppies soon learn to sleep through the entire night.

Basic Obedience Training

Dog Obedience training is necessary to teach your dog the behavior that is acceptable to you and what is unacceptable.

There are 5 basic commands in dog obedience training that you should first teach your dog.

"Sit!""Stay!""Down!""Heel!""Come!"

Dog Obedience Training Tip - When you are teaching your dog these commands remember to praise him along the way when he displays the correct responses.

Dog Obedience Training - "Sit!"

The "sit!" command can be taught by first positioning your dog lengthways in front of you. Keeping the lead in your right hand, use your left hand to apply slow pressure just above the knee joint of your dog's hind legs. Give him the "sit!" command while you do this.

Dog Obedience Training - "Stay!"

You can teach your dog to "stay!" in the sitting position, down position and standing position. With this command use both your voice and a hand signal teach him the correct response to "stay!".

Dog Obedience Training - "Down!"

For the "down!" command your dog's starting position is "sit". Slide his legs forward into the "down" position while saying "down!". If your dog tries to get up give him the "stay!" command and repeat "down!".

Dog Obedience Training - "Heel!"

"Heel!" involves teaching your dog to walk alongside you.

With your dog on your left side, and the lead in your right hand walk along slowly with your dog saying "heel!".

When your dog understands and obeys the "heel!" command teach him right and left turns to avoid collisions.

To turn right first get your dog's attention by patting your left side and moving off in that direction saying "Heel!".

To avoid walking into your dog while teaching him the left turn do it slowly at first. Get his attention as before and turn towards your dog and move off saying "Heel!".

Dog Obedience Training - "Come!"

Give your dog the "sit and stay" commands. Then moving the distance of the lead (this should be six-foot) in front of him, call him using his name followed by the "Come!" command. While doing this reel in the lead.

That's it for this basic dog obedience guide. I hope it's helpful for you and your dog.